PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the three-dimensional fat-suppressed balanced non-steady-state free precession (3D FS-nSSFP) sequence and the 3D T1-weighted spoiled gradient-recalled echo (3D T1-GRE) sequence for evaluating lumbar nerve root compression with continuous thin-slice coronal magnetic resonance (MR) images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional review board approved this study, and written informed consent was obtained from all 35 patients. We optimized continuous 2.5-mm thick lumbar coronal images with 3D FS-nSSFP and 3D T1-GRE. We calculated the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for nerve roots and other structures on images with the two sequences. With knowledge of the final diagnosis, we assessed the visibility of nerve root compression on these images. RESULTS: The CNR values of nerve roots were significantly higher on images with 3D FS-nSSFP than on those with 3D T1-GRE. These continuous thin-slice coronal images facilitated visualization of nerve root compression in >91% of patients. There was no statistically significant difference between the two sequences in the detection of nerve root compression. CONCLUSION: Continuous thin-slice coronal MR images using 3D FS-nSSFP and 3D T1-GRE sequences are sufficient to evaluate lumbar nerve root compression, and 3D FS-nSSFP is superior to 3D T1-GRE for depiction of lumbar nerve roots.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the three-dimensional fat-suppressed balanced non-steady-state free precession (3D FS-nSSFP) sequence and the 3D T1-weighted spoiled gradient-recalled echo (3D T1-GRE) sequence for evaluating lumbar nerve root compression with continuous thin-slice coronal magnetic resonance (MR) images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional review board approved this study, and written informed consent was obtained from all 35 patients. We optimized continuous 2.5-mm thick lumbar coronal images with 3D FS-nSSFP and 3D T1-GRE. We calculated the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for nerve roots and other structures on images with the two sequences. With knowledge of the final diagnosis, we assessed the visibility of nerve root compression on these images. RESULTS: The CNR values of nerve roots were significantly higher on images with 3D FS-nSSFP than on those with 3D T1-GRE. These continuous thin-slice coronal images facilitated visualization of nerve root compression in >91% of patients. There was no statistically significant difference between the two sequences in the detection of nerve root compression. CONCLUSION: Continuous thin-slice coronal MR images using 3D FS-nSSFP and 3D T1-GRE sequences are sufficient to evaluate lumbar nerve root compression, and 3D FS-nSSFP is superior to 3D T1-GRE for depiction of lumbar nerve roots.
Authors: Visveshwar Baskaran; F Scott Pereles; Eric J Russell; Stavros A Georganos; Ali Shaibani; Kenneth A Spero; Elizabeth A Krupinski; Al Zhang; J Paul Finn Journal: Radiology Date: 2003-03-27 Impact factor: 11.105
Authors: Jeroen C van Rijn; Nina Klemetsö; Johannes B Reitsma; Charles B L M Majoie; Frans J Hulsmans; Wilco C Peul; Jan Stam; Patrick M Bossuyt; Gerard J den Heeten Journal: AJR Am J Roentgenol Date: 2005-01 Impact factor: 3.959
Authors: Govind B Chavhan; Paul S Babyn; Bhavin G Jankharia; Hai-Ling M Cheng; Manohar M Shroff Journal: Radiographics Date: 2008 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 5.333
Authors: Dimitrios C Karampinos; Gerd Melkus; Timothy M Shepherd; Suchandrima Banerjee; Emine U Saritas; Ajit Shankaranarayanan; Christopher P Hess; Thomas M Link; William P Dillon; Sharmila Majumdar Journal: NMR Biomed Date: 2012-12-04 Impact factor: 4.044